Adding an extra day and bringing the Rolling Stones to the event for the first time, the 2024 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by Shell was attended by 500,000 fans, Jazz Fest organizers announced today. During the expanded 8-day format, the Festival played out almost entirely under sunny skies as it shined a light on the importance of New Orleans to American and world culture.
“This year’s Festival presented as plainly as ever the beauty of Jazz Fest,” said Quint Davis, Producer/Director of the event. “Watching the Rolling Stones perform with New Orleans and Louisiana stars Irma Thomas and Dwayne Dopsie was to witness the power of the Festival to demonstrate the connection of our culture to some of the greatest music of our time.”
Over its two weekends Jazz Fest presented the region’s best music—blues, gospel, rock, R & B, traditional and contemporary jazz, Cajun and zydeco, brass band and Mardi Gras Indian music, and much more—along with the greatest American roots and world music. Jazz Fest also served up more than 100 different dishes of Louisiana’s irresistible cuisine from a menu that offers fine-dining quality food in a festival setting. Three acclaimed arts and crafts fairs also offered handmade crafts from Louisiana and beyond.
The historic, sold out appearance of the Rolling Stones on Thursday, May 2 was the triumphant conclusion of a 5-year effort to bring the band to Jazz Fest, after cancellations in 2019 and 2021. Few Festival performances have been more anticipated, and even fewer, if any, better received by fans. Other highlights this year included: Jon Batiste’s only-in-New-Orleans set that paid homage to the city’s piano legends, including Professor Longhair, Fats Domino and Allen Toussaint; the Foo Fighters electric return to Jazz Fest; a multifaceted tribute to the late Jimmy Buffett, featuring a photo exhibit in the Grandstand, an emotional jazz funeral, the unveiling of a statue alongside other Jazz Fest ancestors, and culminating on the final day with a performance by the Coral Reefer Band with special guests; Chris Stapleton, the Killers, Queen Latifah, Vampire Weekend, and Fantasia’s unforgettable performances; Jazz Fest debuts by Anderson .Paak, Heart, Greta Van Fleet, Samara Joy, and others; and the return of beloved food items, such as crawfish bread, jama jama, and others to the Festival menu. The Festival’s celebration of Colombian music, art, and cuisine in and near the Expedia Cultural Exchange Pavilion was the largest presentation of its kind ever at the event, testimony to Jazz Fest’s ongoing commitment to the exploration of global culture and its relationship to New Orleans and south Louisiana.
Next year’s event is scheduled for April 24 – May 4, 2025. For the most up-to-date Jazz Fest info, visit www.nojazzfest.com and follow the Festival on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Foundation, Inc. is the nonprofit organization that owns the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by Shell. The Foundation’s proceeds from Jazz Fest are used for year-round activities in the areas of education, economic development and cultural enrichment. Visit http://www.jazzandheritage.org/ for more information on the Foundation.
Shell USA is the Presenting Sponsor of the Festival. Major Jazz Fest Sponsors are Expedia, Miller Lite and Louisiana Office of Tourism. First Horizon Bank, Ochsner Health, Morris Bart, Peoples Health, Tito's Handmade Vodka, New Orleans & Company, Wild Turkey Bourbon, Rockstar Energy, Maui Jim Sunglasses, 1 Million Strong, Coca-Cola, New Orleans Tourism & Cultural Fund, Sheraton New Orleans Hotel, and WWOZ are also Official Jazz Fest Sponsors.
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by Shell is a co-production of Festival Productions, Inc.-New Orleans and AEG Presents.
